Fruit or vegetable steamer



vUNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

EDVARD P. ERIOSON, OF CLERMONT, IOVA.

FRU IT OR VEG ETABLE ST EAM ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 463,499, dated November17, 1891.

Application filed October 2, 1890. Serial No. 366,842. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Beit known that I, EDWARD P. ERIcsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Clermont, in the county of Fayette, State of Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit or VegetableSteamers, of which the following is a specication, reference beinghadtherein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in steamerattachments for boilers and the like, designed more particularly for usein the canning or preserving of fruits or vegetables.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and cheap attachmentwhich may be readily inserted in a common Wash-boiler, and

v upon which the jars or cans are designed to be supported by theattachment, which is perforated upon its upper face, and is formed witha depression over which the bottoms of the cans or jarsare placed, so asto leave a space under the bottoms of all of the cans or jars, so as tomore readily heat the contents of the jars and prevent their breakage.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear,and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

The. invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of thisspecification, in Which- Figure 1 is a top plan of the attachmentremoved. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through a Wash-boilerwith the attachment in position therein, and showing also in dottedlines the cans or jars supported upon the attachment. Fig. 3 isavertical cross-section through the attachment, showing also in dottedlines portions of two jars thereon. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of theboiler provided With blocks or supports, upon which the steamerattachment, with flange omitted, rests when in place.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring now to the details of the drawA ings by letter, A designatesmy improvement. It is shown in the present instance as of a shape andsize adapted for use in connection with an ordinary Wash-boiler5 but inpractice Vstrength thereto.

it is proposed to make it of different shapes and sizes, according tothe form of boiler with which it is desired to be used. It consists of aperforated metal plate corresponding to but slightly smaller in sizethan the bottom of the boiler in connection with which itis to be used.It is provided with a supporting-flange a, so as to elevate it a shortdistance above the bottom of the boiler. It is preferably stamped orpressed out of one piece of material, and, if desired, may be swaged togive The upper face of the steamer is provided with a depression b,Whicli forms a continuous channel around the upper face of theattachment, extendinga short distance from the edge thereof, as seenbestin Figs. 2 and 3. The perforations in the upper face extendcentrally through this channel and also upon both sides thereof, asclearly seen in Figs. l and 3.

The device is used as follows: It is placed Within the boiler, as seenin Fig. 2, with about one and one-half inches of water. The jars or cansfilled with the fruit or the vegetables are then placed upon it. Theboiler is then covered with its lid and heated until steam is generated.Vhen the fruitor vegetables are sufficiently cooked, the jars are takenout, the

contents of one or two of them are used to reted, and the plate may restupon blocks or supports in or attached to the inner sides or bottom ofthe boiler, as shown in Fig. '4, where the letters f f f representblocks or supports, on which the steam-heater rests when in use.

Importance is attached to the surrounding continuous depression orchannel, as by its presence a steam-space is provided beneath thebottoms of the cans or jars, whereby the jars are evenly heated andbreakage avoided and the contents of the jars at this point subj ectedto direct influence of the steam, which it would not be if the metalwere in close contact with the bottoms of the cans or jars.

XVhat I claim as new is l. As an improved article of manufacture, asteamer attachment consisting of a plate having means of support andhaving its upper IOO face provided with a continuous annular depressedportion or Channel, substantially as specified.

2. The steamer attachment described, oonsisting of a plate having asupportiugliange and 'having its upper lface perforated and providedWith a marginal and a central supporting portion, and an intermediateannular de pressed portion, substantially as specified.

3. The herein-doseribed steamer attaolinient, Consisting of asingle'pieee of material and having a supporting-flange, and a'perforated top having a continuous depression or channel, substantiallyas specified.

In testimony whereof I aiiixmysignature in I 5 presence of twoWitnesses.

EDWTARD l. ERICSON. lVitnesses:

',l. E. CLARK, W. A. fiom-IAM.

